October 28, 2013

Rep. Takano Applauds Bipartisan Passage of Veterans Economic Opportunity Act of 2013

Washington DC – Earlier today, Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Mark Takano (D-Riverside) applauded the unanimous passage of the Veterans Economic Opportunity Act of 2013 (H.R. 2481).
 
Included in the Veterans Economic Opportunity Act of 2013 was H.R. 331, which Rep. Takano joined Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Corona) to introduce in January.
 
This legislation will help decrease education benefit processing times by eliminating unnecessary and duplicative paperwork for individual community colleges that are part of a group, district, or consortium. Specifically, it will allow a group, district, or consortium (like Riverside Community College District), that meets certain reporting and organizational criteria to verify a student’s class enrollment number with the Department of Veterans Affairs, instead of requiring each individual college to do so.
 
“I’m pleased to see the Veterans Economic Opportunity Act pass the House of Representatives with an overwhelming bipartisan vote,” said Rep. Takano. “The Veterans Affairs Committee has a strong track record of being the least partisan committee in Congress, as we all agree that these heroes, who have sacrificed so much in the name of service, deserve only the best. I’m especially proud that H.R. 331, which I originally introduced with Rep. Calvert, was included in the final legislation. With Riverside Community College District campuses in both of our congressional districts, centralizing the reporting for veterans’ enrollment will be a great benefit to veterans in the Inland Empire, as this unnecessary and duplicative paperwork delays benefits, increases processing time, and increases costs to RCCD and the VA.”
 
Rep. Takano was one of the lead cosponsors of the Military Family Home Protection Act, which was also included in the final legislation and will expand foreclosure protection to all servicemembers, regardless of when they purchased their home.  Specifically, it will:
  • Stay a home foreclosure action when servicemembers are receiving hostile fire or imminent danger pay;
  • Stay a home foreclosure action for a 12-month period for servicemembers placed on convalescent status, for veterans who are medically discharged, and for surviving spouses of servicemembers whose deaths are service-connected;
  • Double civil penalties for mortgage-related violations;
  • Prohibit banks from discriminating against servicemembers, veterans, and surviving spouses who are eligible for these protections; and
  • Eliminate the primary residence requirement for servicemembers that receive a military order to relocate to another duty station in order to qualify for mortgage refinancing.
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